Monday AU Football Practice Notes, Part III

Mark Murphy

08/04/2008

More notes and quotes from Auburn's Monday football practice are in this report.

*Tony Franklin says he is "really pleased" with freshman running back Eric Smith. The coach says he has shown talent, speed, good hands and likes the running back's size. "He has got a chance to be a really good player in line with all of the other great running backs who have been here. He has a chance to carry that on."

*The offensive coordinator says that freshman receiver and return man Philip Pierre-Louis has "been dynamic" and made some plays and "shown courage, good hands and speed." Pierre-Louis is very quick and needs to be at 5-7 1/2 and around 160 pounds.

*Another freshman wide receiver, Darvin Adams, has been a really good player, Franklin notes, and says that Derek Winter, another freshman wideout, has shown signs that he can be a good player, too.

QB Chris Todd runs a keeper at Monday's practice.

*Commenting on the first three days of practice, Franklin, who doubles as the quarterback coach, says he has been pleased with all four of his scholarship QBs. "I am confident in all four of them," he says of Kodi Burns, Chris Todd, Neil Caudle and freshman Barrett Trotter.

*Another player who won praise after practice on Monday from Franklin is junior tight end Gabe McKenzie. "I have really been pleased with Gabe," he says. "We have really challenged Gabe. Gabe had to get better or Gabe wouldn't play. Gabe got better. He evidently did more in the summer than I thought he did. He has shown signs out here of being able to fit in and get more playing time so I have been really pleased with him."

Prior to his leg injury, cornerback Aairon Savage made an impressive interception in the end zone in a goal line offense/defense drills on a pass thrown to Philip Pierre-Louis (82).

*Commenting on redshirt sophomore guard Byron Isom, Franklin says the potential starter is as talented as any of the other guys on the offensive line and the coach predicts that Isom "will be a really good football player."

*After practice on Monday evening, Chris Evans says he feels good about how he is playing. He says his number one goal this preseason is working on his open field tackling. The senior linebacker says he is upbeat how the linebacker corps is working together.

*Redshirt freshman Adam Herring scooped up an interception on a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. He is running behind Tray Blackmon and Josh Bynes at middle linebacker.

*Sophomore defensive end Antoine Carter continues to have a good preseason camp. Nicknamed "Hot," he won plenty of praise at Monday's workout from his position coach, Terry Price.